Despite a High Court directive and a notice from the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) doctors are still writing prescriptions which are often illegible.

Consequently, medicine buyers are failing to read the names of the medicines. Specialists say that often wrong medicines are given since the prescriptions handwriting is unreadable, resulting in deaths.
A veteran pharmacy worker says: “Sometimes the handwriting is so unintelligible that we cannot make any head or tail of it.”
A pharmacy owner adds: “The court order came two years ago but this has to be monitored.”
Reportedly, the situation is worse in the rural areas.
Secretary general of the Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Dr Ehteshamul Huq observes: “One alphabet which is misinterpreted can cause havoc; after the High Court directive some are giving computer based prescriptions but this has to be widespread.”
DG of the health department, professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad, said: “After the High Court order, all doctors were given specific instructions in this matter but we will take more steps if necessary.”